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cnbc.com
Oracle's stock edges up on earnings beat as cloud infrastructure revenue more than doubles
Oracle's results for the quarter came in stronger than expected, as did its revenue backlog.
bbc.co.uk
Labour mayors in England vow to cap tourist tax at 5%
Reform UK and the Conservatives have criticised plans for the new levy on visitors' overnight stays.
bbc.co.uk
Alstom to build new battery-electric train fleet
The government says the work will support thousands of jobs across the UK.
cnbc.com
Ford announces $1 billion investment at Kentucky plant following DOT criticism on China
Ford Motor on Thursday announced a $1 billion investment to build a new paint shop at its crucial truck plant in Kentucky.
cnbc.com
Trump’s proposed $5,000 election dividend checks could fuel inflation, economists say
Economists say President Donald Trump’s promise of a $5,000 "dividend" check could stoke inflation, further straining household finances in the long run.
cnbc.com
Where investors are finding income outside traditional bonds as brutal drawdown drags on
Bond volatility and rising rates have some investors looking beyond traditional bonds for income, from alternative fixed income to stocks and other strategies.
cnbc.com
U.S. crude oil tops $100 again – last seen in May – as market braces for prolonged Iran war
Oil prices remain elevated amid worries that escalating tensions in the Middle East could further exacerbate supply disruptions
cnbc.com
Trump's $1 trillion-plus 'dividend' plan meets immediate bipartisan pushback
Such a payout could cost more than $1 trillion and is likely to face legal obstacles.
theguardian.com
Ministers face backlash from hospitality industry over ‘tourist tax’ plans
Many mayors welcome power to impose tourist tax but industry warns of ‘irreparable harm’ and job lossesMinisters are facing a backlash from the hospitality industry after they announced mayors in England would be given sweeping powers to levy taxes on holiday accommodation such as hotels and Airbnbs.The plan, presented on Thursday by Angela Rayner, the local government secretary, will allow mayors to impose a “tourist tax” without a cap on how much they can charge and with few controls on how they can spend it. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Global bond sell-off resumes as surging oil prices stoke fears about inflation
Crude jumps above $107 a barrel amid concerns over Middle East conflict and out-of-control government borrowingNervous investors across big economies have been dumping government bonds, driving up the cost of borrowing, as surging oil prices amplified fears about rising inflation.The cost of a barrel of oil jumped 6% to above $107 on Thursday amid concerns that advances by Houthi rebels along the Red Sea coast in Yemen could choke off Saudi crude exports. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
AI is losing its stranglehold on the U.S. stock market. Here's why
A key tech-stock volatility metric options traders have been watching all year is reversing.
bbc.co.uk
Oil, gas and borrowing costs surge as fears over Middle East escalate
The price of oil jumps to $105 a barrel amid signs the Iran war will not be resolved quickly.
cnbc.com
The likelihood of a Fed interest rate hike next week just got a lot higher
Traders pushed chances for a rate increase to 70% in morning action.
cnbc.com
Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol says next stage of turnaround focuses on cafe makeovers, customer experience
Starbucks is now two years into its turnaround under CEO Brian Niccol.
theguardian.com
The hospitality industry fears a tourist tax will deter visitors – the evidence says otherwise
Studies from hotspots across Europe that have introduced levies suggest they have no impact on visitor numbersIf you wandered down Las Ramblas or lazed on a beach in the Balearics this summer, you probably paid a tourist tax for the privilege. In fact, if you enjoyed any of Europe’s beauty spots in recent years, it is likely that an overnight levy was added to your bill.Britons have become used to paying these fees abroad but ministers have shied away from introducing them in the UK. The furious response from UK hospitality bosses helps to explain why. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
When a Dragon gives you a helping hand
When a Dragon gives you a helping hand
cnbc.com
Apple makes biggest change to iPhone release cadence in 7 years in Ternus' first showcase as CEO
In John Ternus' first launch event as CEO, Apple announced its first foldable phone and the iPhone 18 Pro.
bbc.co.uk
Primark introduces home delivery
Primark has said it plans to launch a home delivery service in Britain, four years after it made its first foray into e-commerce.
theguardian.com
English winemakers expect ‘vintage year’ after record-breaking summer heat
Hot weather means sweeter grapes, but outlook gloomier for beermakers, as drought diminishes barley harvestEnglish sparkling winemakers expect their earliest grape harvest and a “vintage year” after a scorching summer quickly ripened grapes.However, beer sellers have warned of a potential shortage after record-breaking temperatures and a drought hitting much of England has caused poor yields of barley. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Kalshi launches ‘perps’ for gold and silver following CFTC approval, expanding futures offerings
Its the latest move by the prediction market company to diversify its assets users can trade.
theguardian.com
Much of Europe already levies a tourist tax – a nice little earner for Italian hotspots
While England makes its first foray into unfamiliar territory, it’s proved a boon for Italy’s cash-strapped municipalities A nightly tourist tax may be unfamiliar territory in the UK, but countries in continental Europe have been cashing in on these kinds of levies for decades.Tourists usually need to pay the tax on the day they check out of a hotel or holiday let, and are often surprised by an extra fee on top of their accommodation costs. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Air traffic chaos and compensation: 'Shutdown cost us more than £1,000'
Flight disruption has ruined holidays and left passengers sleeping on airport floors - so what are their rights?
cnbc.com
Wholesale prices rose 0.4% in August, as expected
The producer price index was expected to rise 0.4% in August, according to the Dow Jones consensus forecast.
cnbc.com
European Central Bank hikes interest rates to 2.5% as policymakers see risk of higher inflation, weaker growth
The central bank is contending with rising prices, the consequences of the U.S.-Iran war and surging government borrowing costs.
theguardian.com
ECB raises interest rates to 2.5% and warns Iran war is fuelling inflation
Borrowing costs climb in Europe and oil tops $105 a barrel as bank says growing price pressures in eurozone will be ‘longer lasting than we had anticipated’Business live – latest updatesThe European Central Bank has raised interest rates to 2.5% and warned that the risk of higher inflation over the next year has risen following renewed fighting in the Middle East.It came as government borrowing costs soared on the back of a jump in oil and gas prices after the latest US and Iran attacks on ships in the strait of Hormuz. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
OpenAI not on track to reduce risk of ‘catastrophic’ loss of control, says board member
US government adviser Paul Christiano warns of risks to AI industry as he joins OpenAI’s non-profit foundationOpenAI is not on track to reduce the risk of “catastrophic” loss of control to an acceptable level, a member of its non-profit board has said, amid spreading public and political concern that super-advanced AIs could one day wipe out humanity.Paul Christiano, a US government technology adviser, said: “There is a meaningful risk that rapid acceleration in AI capabilities leads to catastrophic and irreversible loss of control in the very near term.” Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Ryanair will dispute passenger’s claim he was sucked out of window
CEO Michael O’Leary tells reporters the businessman was sucked ‘towards’ but not out of the openingRyanair has said it will be “disputing” that any part of a passenger’s body was sucked outside when a window on one of its aircraft broke while in flight.US investigators are examining the incident which left Ljubisa Karović, 61, severely injured when the window beside him shattered on a Ryanair flight from Greece to Germany in July. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Glencore’s former head of oil pleads not guilty to bribery charges
Billionaire Alex Beard and his former deputy appear in London court over alleged payments to African officialsGlencore’s billionaire former head of oil trading has pleaded not guilty to two bribery charges after allegedly facilitating payments to west African officials in order to advance the Swiss commodity group’s operations in the continent.Alex Beard, 59, denied two counts of conspiracy to make corrupt payments at Southwark crown court in London on Thursday, in a case brought by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO). Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Amazon backs Ariane with rocket launch orders as Europe battles to close its space gap
The deal hands the continent's space industry a commercial boost as governments push for greater sovereign capabilities.
theguardian.com
John Lewis losses widen to £124m as shopper confidence dips
Retailer says first half was a tougher market than it expected, though Waitrose grew salesBusiness live – latest updatesLosses at the owner of John Lewis and Waitrose widened by more than 40% in the first half of the year as it struggled with higher costs and shoppers feeling less confident about their money.The John Lewis Partnership, which operates 36 department stores and more than 300 Waitrose supermarkets, said its pre-tax loss for the six months to 1 August climbed to £124m, compared with £88m in the same period in 2025. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Investors seek hedges as midterms and geopolitical risks threaten market calm
Investors are starting to seek more protection against stock market swings as a historically volatile period for markets approaches.
cnbc.com
'Extinction' warnings ramp up as more OpenAI, Anthropic researchers join calls for an AI slowdown
There is growing concern globally about the capability of AI, following numerous cyberattacks and security incidents in recent months by rogue models
bbc.co.uk
Primark finally set to launch home deliveries
The retailer launches the service four years after making its first foray into internet shopping.
cnbc.com
Ryanair CEO says to brace for a 'significant uplift' in airfares as oil prices soar
Ryanair's CEO warned airfare prices may see significant hikes as the surging cost of jet fuel continues to squeeze the airline industry.
bbc.co.uk
Apple's new boss starts with big gamble on £1,999 first folding iPhone
Apple showed off at an event the first major design change to the iPhone in almost 20 years.
cnbc.com
Coinbase CEO says clearer U.S. crypto rules are coming — with or without Senate approval
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong says U.S. crypto regulation could move forward regardless of the outcome of the Clarity Act.
theguardian.com
Iceland to become first UK high street retailer to open shop in Falkland Islands
Boss Richard Walker is ‘proud to be backing Britain’ with a store in the capital, StanleyBusiness live – latest updatesThe supermarket chain Iceland has said it will open a shop on the Falkland Islands in early December.The shop, to be launched in partnership with a local retailer, Kelper Stores, will be the first UK high street brand to have a presence in the British territory and will be in the capital, Stanley. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
JP Morgan boss meets Burnham and Healey to warn against bank tax rise
Jamie Dimon tells UK politicians before October budget that investment could be at risk, it is understoodJamie Dimon, chief executive of the largest US bank, JP Morgan, is understood to have warned Andy Burnham and his chancellor, John Healey, against raising taxes on banks in his inaugural budget in October.The Wall Street billionaire met the politicians on Wednesday and cautioned them that higher taxes could put investment and employment in the UK at risk, it is understood. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
World’s largest contract chipmaker TSMC sees August revenue surge over 53% to record high
TSMC reported monthly sales revenue for August on Thursday.
cnbc.com
'Saved the day': How China helped keep the lid on oil price surge as Iran war disrupted supplies
China's crude stockpiling and subsequent pullback on purchases since the war erupted in late February has helped the world avoid a deeper energy crisis.
cnbc.com
CNBC Daily Open: The Trump 'Dividend': $5,000 for control of Congress
The promise of a payment, and a claim oil will "come tumbling down" are the key takeaways from President Trump's speech at the Republican's convention.
cnbc.com
UBS CEO flags investor complacency as geopolitical and economic risks mount
The UBS top boss cautioned that investors face an increasingly complicated environment given multiple headwinds.
bbc.co.uk
Buy now or wait and hope? Families face gamble on heating oil
The price of heating oil has almost doubled in 12 months following the conflict in the Middle East.
bbc.co.uk
Social supermarket reports hundreds of sign-ups
Dartford Larder members pay £4.50 each week for items including unlimited fruit and vegetables.
theguardian.com
‘Fundamentally unfair’: Burnham must overhaul migration reforms, says TUC general secretary
Paul Nowak says changes to immigration rules risk overstretching social care and fuelling far-right sentimentAndy Burnham must overhaul Shabana Mahmood’s migration reforms or risk overstretching social care and fuelling far-right sentiment, the TUC general secretary, Paul Nowak, has warned.Speaking ahead of the TUC’s annual congress in Brighton next week, Nowak welcomed the “sense of optimism” around Burnham’s fledgling government, but he urged the PM to act in a series of areas, including migration and the cost of living. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Samsung works to draw iPhone users to its foldables even as Apple enters the market
Samsung is drawing more iPhone users to its foldables as Apple’s rumored entry threatens to reshape the market.
cnbc.com
Ant International partners with Visa, Mastercard on developing AI payments
Visa, Mastercard and Ant International are working on common standards for AI-agent payments — including ways to verify and monitor their transactions.
cnbc.com
Inside India newsletter: India’s green push aims to boost energy security but exposes China dependency
India's ambition to create a self-reliant energy ecosystem by expanding its renewable energy footprint is facing a China problem.
bbc.co.uk
Tax banks to cut energy bills, unions tell Burnham
The TUC says a bank surcharge should be reversed - and estimates it would raise £9bn over four years.
cnbc.com
Democratic Sen. John Fetterman makes surprise video appearance at GOP midterm convention
Fetterman, of Pennsylvania, vowed to "work with President Trump to fight and defend the steel way of life right here in the Steel Valley."
bbc.co.uk
Why some experts increasingly fear AI will take over
AI agents went on an uncontrolled hacking spree, leaving some in the industry worried
bbc.co.uk
The one thing you need to do to succeed - according to top bosses
What makes someone stand out in a crowded workplace? Six business leaders tell us what they look for.
theguardian.com
Chancellor urged to fix £100k childcare ‘cliff edge’ that prompts parents to cut work
Threshold pushes some to reduce hours or stop working to avoid losing entitlement, report warns John Healey has been urged to fix the £100,000 childcare “cliff edge”, that means some higher-paid employees cut back on work to avoid losing their entitlement.Since the latest expansion of taxpayer-funded childcare in 2024, families with young children in which both parents earn less than £100,000 a year can be entitled to 30 hours a week of care - or none at all, if one of them cross that threshold. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Trump says oil and gas prices won't fall until 'right after' midterm election
President Donald Trump said energy prices that have been elevated due to the Iran war will not come down until after the midterm elections.
theguardian.com
Apple unveils folding iPhone Duo as new CEO takes center stage
The passport-size iPhone Duo serves as the first big test for John Ternus, who took over from Tim Cook last weekApple has unveiled the iPhone Duo, the company’s first foldable phone and the most significant change to the iPhone since the smartphone’s introduction in 2007.The nearly $2,000 device takes inspiration from iPads’ wide screens and combines them with the portability and camera features of iPhones. When opened, it is the company’s largest phone display and thinnest phone. The Duo opens and closes like a passport to double its screen size. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Baggage reclaim was pandemonium’: passengers hit by airport IT chaos in UK recount their ordeals
From hours stuck on planes awaiting takeoff, to sleeping the night on the floor at Heathrow. Here are some travellers’ experiencesMore than 2,000 flights have been cancelled after an air traffic control system failure that has thrown airports across the UK into chaos. Nats, the air traffic control provider, fixed the problem within hours on Tuesday, but hundreds of thousands of passengers were hit by further delays and cancellations on Wednesday.Martin Rolfe, the chief executive of Nats, has been given a week to report back on the reasons for the technical failure. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Treasury Department to buy back up to $6 billion in longer-term debt, triple the normal level
The much-anticipated announcement triples the normal buyback operation and follows an announcement from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
bbc.co.uk
Air traffic failure was avoidable, says transport secretary
Heidi Alexander orders an investigation into the glitch that caused more than 2,000 flight cancellations.
theguardian.com
The Guardian view on UK-EU relations: voters would reward greater ambition | Editorial
The architects of Brexit know it has failed. That presents Andy Burnham with an opportunity to set a bolder new agendaModesty is not a trait commonly associated with Nigel Farage. Something else must explain the Reform UK leader’s reluctance to talk about what is undoubtedly his biggest achievement.Few individuals can boast of having influenced British politics as drastically as Mr Farage, with his record of campaigning for Brexit before that word was even coined. He will for ever be associated with the demand for emancipation from Brussels, but is rarely heard celebrating its completion. It barely earned a mention in speeches at his party’s annual conference last week. The simple reason is that none of the promises made about the benefits of life outside the EU have been fulfilled. Leaving made the country poorer, and voters know it.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
The Guardian view on Donald Trump’s oil deal: Venezuela pays for his vanity | Editorial
The US president seized a nation’s natural wealth in a modern-day version of gunboat diplomacy to feed his ego – not to lower Americans’ fuel billsImperialism does not require a flag to be planted or a governor dispatched. It can be a powerful nation deciding who governs a smaller, weaker country, and on what terms and for whose benefit its resources will be developed. Donald Trump’s kidnapping of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro, putting his deputy – Delcy Rodríguez – in his place as president, and then her signing a deal handing a fifth of the country’s proven oil reserves to the US, amount to a modern version of 19th-century gunboat diplomacy. Regime change supplied America’s commercial concession.This won’t bother Mr Trump. But it should. The US president has oversold his neocolonial spoils. The additional production Venezuela is supposed to bring online might bring down oil prices eventually, but not anytime soon. Crucially, what Mr Trump calls “the biggest oil deal in history” won’t cause the price at the pump to fall before November’s midterms. When so many American voters are struggling to pay energy bills, it’s hard to see how unrealised Orinoco Belt riches are going to help Republican candidates.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Share Energy to increase electricity prices by 12.6%
The supplier said the industry has faced "exceptional volatility" following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and instability in the Middle East.
theguardian.com
Air traffic control boss given a week to report after UK flight chaos causes 2,000 cancellations
Government remains confident in under-pressure Martin Rolfe but transport secretary believes glitch was avoidableHow have you been affected by UK air traffic disruption?The head of the air traffic control provider Nats has been given a week to report back on the reasons for a technical failure that grounded thousands of flights, as the transport secretary said she did “not believe the issue was unavoidable”.Heidi Alexander said on Tuesday she had also commissioned an independent review by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) into the latest Nats meltdown, which severely disrupted travel for hundreds of thousands of passengers. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Anthropic researcher believes more than 10% chance AI 'could kill all humans'
It is the latest in a series of increasing warnings about the safety threat posed by artificial intelligence.
bbc.co.uk
Sapporo to move some beer production from Canada to US after tariffs
The Japanese brewer plans to shift non-alcoholic beer brewing to the US from Canada as tariffs bite
bbc.co.uk
More flight cancellations as fallout from air traffic control glitch continues
Departures from a number of airports are affected by a technical problem affecting air traffic control provider Nats.
bbc.co.uk
Petrol prices rise by 5p over a week as Iran war sends oil higher
A litre of unleaded now costs 167.17p which is the biggest weekly increase since April, data shows.
bbc.co.uk
Learner drivers still forced to wait months for tests
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency had been given a target to reduce average wait times to seven weeks.
theguardian.com
EU unveils ‘buy European’ public procurement rules to counter China
Authorities and public bodies to be urged to buy goods and services from Europe, but without binding quotasEuropean authorities will be encouraged to buy more domestic goods and services when they spend public money under the EU latest effort to counter China’s economic might.In a further “Buy European” plan, the European Commission published proposals on Wednesday for a sweeping overhaul of EU public procurement rules. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
UK airport disruption: what are your rights if you have been affected?
The software failure that affected the air traffic control system on Tuesday has been resolved, but disruption continues into WednesdayNats boss summoned by UK transport secretary as flight chaos enters second dayHow have you been affected by UK air traffic disruption?Airports across the UK including Manchester, Birmingham and all those in London were thrown into chaos by a technical failure in the air traffic control system on Tuesday.Although the air traffic control provider Nats fixed the problem within hours, the fallout continued to cause flight delays and cancellations on Wednesday. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
US to ban imports of some Canadian alcohol, dairy goods and motorbikes
It is the latest strike in a long trade war, and comes after Canadian counter-tariffs on US goods come into force.
theguardian.com
Supercar maker McLaren to create 1,000 UK jobs in £450m tech investment
New roles at Woking-based centre a welcome boost to ailing automotive industryThe British supercar manufacturer McLaren is to create 1,000 jobs in a welcome boost to the UK’s struggling automotive industry.The carmaker is creating the jobs as part of a £450m investment in its technology centre in Woking, Surrey, near to the plant where it manufactures all of its vehicles. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
What are my rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed?
Flights are cancelled owing to air traffic control problems, so what are your rights if you're affected?
theguardian.com
I co-founded an orchestra 18 years ago. Since then, I’ve seen doors close for working-class musicians | Robert Ames
I have lost patience with the sector’s talk of diversity when it refuses to acknowledge those people who can’t afford to keep playingI’ve spent most of my adult life working in classical music – for the past 18 years as the co-founder and conductor of the London Contemporary Orchestra (LCO), an organisation I’m stepping down from today. During that time, I have found myself increasingly angry at how much harder it has become for someone without money behind them to build a life in the sector.There used to be a route in. As a child from a working-class background, I could pick up an instrument at a state school, get cheap lessons through the local, council-backed music service and play in youth orchestras (borrowing a viola because my family couldn’t afford one).Robert Ames is a conductor and composer Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Singaporean man pleads guilty in US to massive crypto heist
Malone Lam and his associates used the proceeds of their crimes to fund a luxurious lifestyle, US authorities said.
bbc.co.uk
Cowboy builder tore my home apart and disappeared off the face of the Earth with £14k
Victims of cowboy builders describe how they were exploited with one couple left "scarred for life".
cnbc.com
The world's highest paid leader is set for a 64% pay rise. Here's how others compare
Wong announced ministerial salaries will be adjusted upwards after 15 years, with his annual pay package rising to 3.6 million Singapore dollars
theguardian.com
‘Miserable and impossible’: food scarce in Kyiv as Russia targets supply chains
Supermarket shelves half-filled in Ukrainian capital as Moscow bombs warehouses supporting civilian lifeStocking up on cured sausages from the half-empty shelves in her local supermarket, Valentyna Sveshnikova is worried about money. The 68-year-old grandmother lives off her small pension and has already noticed the cost of several goods increase, including sausages. Russia wants “to make our life miserable and impossible. And they’re actually succeeding in it,” she says.Russian strikes on food warehouses and logistics supply chains around several Ukrainian cities have left gaps on supermarket shelves and risk causing price increases. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Elon Musk’s ex-girlfriend accuses him of sowing ‘deliberate division’ on X - video
Elon Musk is sowing 'deliberate division' via his social media platform X that will be catastrophic unless regulated, the mother of one of the 14 confirmed children fathered by the world’s richest man has warned. In Musk, a new documentary by veteran film-maker Alex Gibney, former Maga influencer Ashley St Clair says Musk told her in a text message he wanted to have a child with her because he needed to have 'a legion of children before the civil war'. The couple had a son in 2024 but have since separated. St Clair says Musk’s team offered her a $40m lump-sum payment and a monthly stipend of $100,000 in return for her signing a non-disclosure agreement but withdrew the offer after she refused to sign itElon Musk told ex-girlfriend he needed ‘a legion of children before the civil war’ Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Hit TV show 'South Park' becomes 'South America' in apparent reference to Trump's geographic name changes
Show creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone said in a statement that they were "inspired by the bravery and patriotism of Apple and Google."
bbc.co.uk
Should promotion depend on how workers use AI?
More companies are tying career progression to AI use: is that fair?
bbc.co.uk
I'm 27 and I've already written my will - here's why
For many young people making a will may not seem necessary, but here's why you shouldn't put it off.
bbc.co.uk
OpenAI says it cracked 90-year-old maths problem in 88 hours
OpenAI's claim that it solved parts of Navier-Stokes equations has quickly stirred controversy.
theguardian.com
Yes, cut red tape. But shareholder votes on boardroom pay are not ‘pointless admin’
Nothing good can come of ditching annual investor votes on remuneration reports or encouraging online-only shareholder meetingsThe government, like every other one in living memory, is on a mission to reduce red tape for business. The former chancellor Rachel Reeves promised “a blitz on bureaucracy” and “pointless admin” and here comes the business department with a 12-week consultation on “modernising corporate reporting to support long-term economic growth”.Never mind that cutting energy costs for business would, by an order of magnitude, do more to support growth than any bonfire of red tape ever will. The consultation is still worthwhile: clearing out accumulated clutter, exploring digital options and clarifying reporting “exemptions and exclusions” for small- and medium-sized companies could free up a bit of time for doing more business. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Ella Baron on the UK’s ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements – cartoon
Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Are rich people really worse behaved? Here’s the science – video
Who’s more likely to steal sweets from a child? According to science, it’s the rich. A study seemingly confirming our suspicions about the moral behaviour of the wealthy was one of the winners of the 2026 Ig Nobel prizes, which honour research that makes you laugh and then think. Science editor Ian Sample tells Madeleine Finlay what the researchers think could be behind the phenomenon, and they explore some of the other awards, including one for a surprising quality we look for in our friends and another for a biomechanical definition of kissing Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Borrowers expecting mortgage rates to drop have hopes dashed
Major lenders have raised rates on new deals in recent days, leaving many borrowers needing to make a decision.
bbc.co.uk
Carney says US trade war 'will come at a cost' as Canada strikes back on tariffs
Canada's levies - as high as 50% - will apply to nearly $20bn of US products, from steel to T-shirts.
theguardian.com
UK foreign secretary announces sanctions on trade with Israeli West Bank settlements – video
In the strongest condemnation ever issued by a UK government, Ed Miliband said it would take the official position that Israel’s occupation of the West Bank was unlawful in its entirety. The sanctions imposed include bans on goods from illegal settlements and adverts for land on the settlements will also be prohibited. Miliband said the measures would take up to nine months to come into effectUK accuses Israeli ‘terrorists’ of ethnic cleansing in West Bank with government backingUK Politics live - latest updates Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Here in Liverpool, buses are back under public control – and that’s great for the only people who really matter | Steve Rotheram
For decades we were told that privatisation would deliver better services. The experience of millions of passengers tells a different storySteve Rotheram is mayor of the Liverpool city regionOne of the best-known scenes from the TV series The Inbetweeners is the four angst-ridden teenage characters shouting abuse at people queueing at a bus stop. Only losers take the bus, is the point – except they use a much ruder word. There’s also a statement, misattributed to Margaret Thatcher, that any man over the age of 26 using a bus was a loser. This idea is deeply ingrained.But when I was an MP it became obvious that there wasn’t the same stigma attached to jumping on the bus in London as there often was in other big cities. It often wound me up that the rest of the country was expected to accept a suboptimal public transport system – so much so that it could be joked that only losers would use it – while London retained its excellent bus service, which it ran under public control.Steve Rotheram is mayor of the Liverpool city region Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Argentina to file criminal case against oil company operating in Falklands
The move comes days after President Javier Milei stepped up Argentina's claims of sovereignty over the Falklands.
theguardian.com
‘Everything is against us’: Jaguar Land Rover suppliers voice fears amid carmaker’s cutbacks
Firms warn of impact of company’s decision to to axe 4,000 jobs and call for government to support sectorJaguar Land Rover confirms plan to cut 4,000 jobsDavid Roberts is not in an optimistic mood. The chair of Coventry-based Evtec may preside over a business with 900 highly skilled employees, multiple sites and precision machinery, but the outlook for the manufacturer appears tricky. “Everything is against us,” he says.Evtec is a “tier 1” supplier to Jaguar Land Rover, also headquartered in Coventry, which this week announced 4,000 job cuts over two years even as the chancellor, John Healey, attempted to talk up Britain’s growth prospects in his first big speech, just down the road. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
UK's third-biggest taxpayer to leave for Greece
Chris Rokos plans to open an office in Athens, reports say, and was ranked third in the Sunday Times's list of the UK's top taxpayers.
bbc.co.uk
AI will cure cancer in our lifetime, claims boss of UK chip giant
Arm Holding's chief executive Rene Haas says artificial intelligence will find a solution to the disease.
bbc.co.uk
'Tirana teeth': Albania hopes to be the new Turkey for dental work
The Balkan nation is aiming to become a new centre for medical tourism.
bbc.co.uk
The firms turning recruitment into X Factor-style competitions
Applicants have to pitch their ideas on stage in front of a panel of judges and an audience. But is this exciting or unfair?
theguardian.com
‘Trust deficit’: Why India’s economic data has sparked a furore
India’s statistical system once commanded respect, and its data on economic and social indicators was considered rigorous – that appears to have eroded• Don’t get This is India delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereThere isn’t much that we Indians agree on these days. GDP numbers are no exception. Last week, India released glowing GDP numbers for the latest quarter – 7.8% growth – higher than the forecast 7%. It sparked a furore.Subhash Garg, a former finance secretary under Narendra Modi’s government and now a critic, reframed what Modi called a “herculean feat” as mere smoke and mirrors. According to Garg, the government revised last year’s current-price GDP downwards to inflate this year’s number – he believes the real growth is only 2.6%. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
I paid my Ulez charge, but I am still receiving threats from TfL
Transport for London has fined me and warned that if I don’t pay it will possibly destroy my carI paid the £12.50 London Ulez charge on my Amex card within hours of driving through the zone. I was then fined £90 for non-payment. According to my card issuer, Transport for London (TfL) had failed to collect the £12.50.TfL’s letter threatened a £180 fine, rising to £360, and possible destruction of my car, if I did not pay. My appeal was rejected. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Europe’s fighter jet plans are in disarray. What happens next?
While the UK and Italy are making progress, France and Germany’s joint venture came to nothing, and the prospect of more countries pulling together seems way offWhen the former European Central Bank president and Italian prime minister Mario Draghi laid out a plan for Europe to catch up economically with the US and China, collaborating on defence was one of the prescriptions. No more should each country in Europe try to make its own version of a boat, tank or jet but instead share costs and technologies between allies.Europe appears to have fallen at the first hurdle. The German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, and the French president, Emmanuel Macron, were forced to cancel the joint future combat air system in June, after fraught efforts to work together since 2018. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
French winemakers forecast 30-year low harvest after severe drought and heat
Estimates suggest drop in production with vineyards also concerned ‘smoke taint’ from wildfires may affect qualityFrench vineyards hit by severe drought and heatwaves are expected to report a 30-year low in wine production after the country’s hottest ever recorded summer, according to the agriculture ministry.Initial estimates suggest winemakers will produce just under 34m hectolitres from this year’s harvest: a drop of 6% on last year, and 17% less than the 2021-2025 average. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
UK house prices fall for first time since 2023, led by London and south-east
Average property cost £298,468 in August, down by 0.4% year on year amid higher interest rates, says LloydsUK house prices have fallen for the first time in almost three years, as prospective buyers were squeezed by higher mortgage rates, geopolitical uncertainty and stretched affordability.Prices have dropped by 0.4% compared with a year ago, the first year-on-year decrease since November 2023, according to the lender Lloyds. That came in below expectations of a 0.2% annual rise, according to a poll of economists by Reuters. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
The Gymnastics Academy changed my prepaid booking but said ‘no’ to a refund
I arranged for my daughter to attend three sessions during the school holidays but the venue and one of the dates were changedI booked my daughter for three sessions during the school summer holidays at The Gymnastics Academy. The reservation was made and paid for last November because of a promotional offer.In June, I received emails from The Gymnastics Academy, confirming a session for a venue I had not booked. I was concerned my account had been hacked. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
England’s housing courts at breaking point as renters battle no-fault evictions
Courts said to be ‘overloaded’ as landlords sell properties and tenants with nowhere to go try to delay evictionsIt is a Wednesday afternoon at Stratford housing court, and every seat in the waiting room is full. Over the next few hours, a conveyor belt of tenants and lawyers file into the courtroom to discuss their housing disputes – up to 29 cases are dealt with in a single day.In one case, a tenant is trying to buy more time after receiving a section 21 no-fault eviction earlier in the year, before they were banned. He has had no luck finding emergency housing with his local council. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Uncanny and unappetizing: appetites spoil as AI images take over food menus
Consumers are increasingly encountering AI-generated images on food menus such as leathery meat and bread resembling reptile skinDuring a recent lunch break, Jill Sennett saw something so unappetizing she had to share it with her 26,000 X followers: Artificial intelligence-generated menu images from a Jamaican barbecue pop-up restaurant in which the meats looked like leather belts crawling with tiny beetles.The images were reshared by more than 500 people who similarly expressed their disgust. Eating is “such an essential human experience”, said Sennett, a 37-year-old nurse in Denver. “I think it’s a bad cultural thing that restaurants are converting to these horrific, uncanny food images that are unappetizing.” Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Why a famous Montreal sandwich shop has been forced to swap its soda
Schwartz’s, one of Montreal’s most famous delis, has changed suppliers for its black cherry soda.
theguardian.com
The student loan scam looking to dupe already anxious students
Scammers hope to siphon off some of the £2.6bn in student maintenance funds paid out each SeptemberYou are about to start university and can’t wait but then you receive a worrying text message. It is a few days before the first student loan payment is due to land in your account and apparently someone has tried to alter your bank details.“Our records indicate that your bank details on your student finance account were changed on Friday 16th. If you did not do this please contact us immediately,” says the text. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Aviation faces hotter, stormier skies – and passengers might have to accept more disruption
Are people going to have to increasingly accept more delays and diversions as the effects of climate change intensify?
bbc.co.uk
Consumer Fight Back
Rejected for PIP? Most tribunal appeals succeed. We ask why.
bbc.co.uk
How much can Canada fight back in its trade war with the US?
The US may be the bigger trading partner, but Canada shouldn't be counted out quite yet in the escalating trade fight.
bbc.co.uk
Prosecco, cakes and beauty products - how to get birthday freebies and why there's a catch
Cake, coffee, make-up and burgers are just some of the free things you can get on your birthday.
bbc.co.uk
From 'dog fruit' to darling: India's avocado boom
Demand for avocados is booming in India and local growers hope to grab more of the market.
bbc.co.uk
Why wait? Business grads buying firms to install themselves as CEO
Impatient to be the boss of an established company they are borrowing money to fund their purchases.
bbc.co.uk
'My parents won't lend me £10k but helped my brother': When families play financial favourites
So-called financial favouritism can cause jealousy and resentment long into adulthood. Here is how experts say you can avoid it
bbc.co.uk
Overcooked? Why robotic pizza makers are failing
A string of failures has sapped confidence that robots will take over production at pizza restaurants.
bbc.co.uk
How Dolly Parton's business savvy helped her succeed far beyond the charts
While country music and films brought her fame, her entrepreneurial zeal brought her fortune.
bbc.co.uk
Firms scramble for battery power in Spain and Portugal
After last year's massive power failure Spanish and Portuguese firms are buying battery back ups.
bbc.co.uk
Drought leaves 'barely any apples' to make cider
Some orchards are harvesting just a 10th of their usual crop, and facing an uncertain future.
bbc.co.uk
'What you see is what you pay' - why some US restaurants are banning tips
Tips are central to US dining culture but some eateries think that they are unfair.
bbc.co.uk
How landscape gardening is being electrified
The switch to quieter electric equipment is not going as fast as some would like.
bbc.co.uk
Why the UK is dithering over what to do about e-scooters
Why is it taking so long for the government to regulate them, and what are the consequences of delay?
bbc.co.uk
Why Gen Z are planning for life without a state pension
Many younger people do not believe the state pension will exist when they are older
bbc.co.uk
The furious dispute over what caused Air India flight 171 to crash
The final conclusions of the investigation have yet to be published, although more could become apparent in the coming days.
bbc.co.uk
How the High Street became a window on our political instability
High Streets have declined in recent years. What does this tell us about the UK?
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